Friday, March 12, 2010

This novel was inspired by a nonprofit organization named Beaded Hope. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this novel will go to support it.

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, My Take:Four American women take a mission trip to South Africa. One hopes it will help her career, another is running away from the loss of a loved one and her dreams for their future, another hopes for relief from the hurtful, judgmental attitudes of people who were once her friends, and another hopes it will renew and strengthen her relationship with her daughter.

Their lives are changed in ways they didn't foresee when they meet the group of South African women they're supposed to help. These women suffer from AIDS and have lost many loved ones to it yet they have great joy and faith despite the overwhelming adversity.

One of their new friends shows them the amazing beadwork of the local women. She tells them her dream of helping these women to support their families by somehow selling their beadwork in America. The American women agree to help make her dream a reality, but, with the obstacles in their way and their own problems to deal with, it may take more than they've got...

Review:Beaded Hope was a well-written and enjoyable inspirational general fiction. It's fast-paced and full of suspense. I was quickly engaged by the realistic characters and their realistic struggles, and I cared about what happened to them. The world-building was excellent and brought everything (especially South Africa) alive in my imagination.

Most of the main characters were Christians. There was some God-talk and praying, but no preaching at the reader. Unless you're strongly anti-God, you probably won't be bothered by the religious content of this novel.

There was no sex and no bad language. The novel was a bit of a tear-jerker--what happened to the characters made me cry--but it was also full of hope. Overall, I'd highly recommend this well-written novel.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Excerpt from Chapter OneSuburb of Columbus, Ohio

"Hey, Gabby, what are you doing?"

Even after all their years together, the sound of her husband's voice could still make Gabrielle Phillips's heart skip a beat. She pressed the cell phone closer to her ear. It had been such a long week without Tom at home. "I'm running into Hirscham's to pick up a shirt for Dad's birthday."

"Running? You're running?"

His overly cautious tone brought a smile to her face. "Not running, silly, although I could run, you know. I'm walking briskly. Hurrying. I have to be back at church by 1:30 for a meeting with the other directors."

"Is everything...?" His hesitancy to finish the sentence told her everything he feared. How many times had he asked the same question only to hear the worst? No wonder Tom could barely ask anymore. Only fools got too close to a fire after getting burned time and again.

But at least today she had good news.

"Everything is fine. Absolutely fine. Wonderful. Really." Closing her eyes, Gabby whispered her thanks to God. Tom's audible sigh and then silence made her think he might be doing the same. "Except for...I miss you terribly."

Thank you so much for your review of Beaded Hope. Cathy has worked hard at capturing the heart and spirit of the women of Beaded Hope and South Africa so it's wonderful to hear that the book moved you!

as they say in South Africa, you are blessed.Jennifer DavisBeaded Hope, Executive Director

About Me

My name is Debbie. I'm a single female in my thirties. I have three book review blogs: one for well-written, clean fiction; one for nonfiction (memoirs, history, military, religion, and social issues); and a book club for Christian nonfiction.

My other review blogs

Why this blog?

I like to read, but it can be hard to find clean mainstream fiction anymore. Hopefully this blog will help others who have similar reading tastes to find clean novels to read.

In my reviews, I try to point out elements that I think readers may wish to know which might influence their decision to read a book. I'm not trying to convince people not to read a book as I'm fully aware that some things which bother me won't bother others at all. So if a book sounds fun to you, certainly give it a try!

Disclosure StatementI'm not paid to review books. I do receive free review copies from publishers, authors, etc., but I also review books I've bought or checked out of the library. I review all books by the same standard, no matter the source. My readers are assuming I am, and the publishers expect it.